The CC560 Starwheel based Capping Machine is Cap Coders biggest selling machine. It has developed over the years from a simple pneumatic online cap tightening machine, to a sophisticated, PLC controlled unit, that is still simple to use.

In its basic format, the capping machine is supplied with a drive servo indexing unit, mounted above the working area, allowing the machine to be easily installed onto customers conveyors with minimal disruption to the existing line set up. The indexing unit can be programmed for different indexing speeds and/or different numbers of indexing stations, depending on the products, product fill and application. This enables the machine to handle small containers from around 50ml capacity using a 16 pocket starwheel, to 5 litre containers using a 4 pocket starwheel.

More recently developed is Cap Coders Adjustable Starwheel , which can handle products in the range of Ø25mm to Ø80mm, thus minimising the number of change parts required. This is ideal for contract packers or customers with a varied range of products.

The machine is PLC controlled, using and Allen Bradley 'Micrologix 1500' PLC, but alternative control systems can be offered.

Thanks to Cap Coders experience and expertise in capping, it has developed the CC720 MK VI Torque Head, which is ideal for use in the CC560 machine. The torque head is generally supplied with an electric motor, which can be controlled with Speed and Torque potentiometers to give the desired torque, accurately and consistently.

The torque head can be supplied in different formats to suit the customers design specifications and requirements, examples as follows:

Single head cap tightening, the most basic format, where pre-placed/pre-started caps are tightened to the required torque

Twin head cap tightening, similar to the above, but the starwheel is indexed two positions at a time, before the torque head act in unison to tighten caps two at a time for faster production rates

Single head automatic capping, where the caps are picked form a cap transfer system and automatically applied to the container

Rotary swing head automatic capping, similar to the above, but operates so that whilst one head is screwing a cap on, the other is picking a cap in preparation.

It is often adapted to suit the customers requirements and specifications which may include, trigger spray applications where the trigger needs to be tightened and oriented to the alignment of the container or supplied with all stainless steel frame-work, due to corrosive elements of the filling medium. The machine can also be interfaced with Cap Coders 'Gentle Touch' coder for bottom/top coding.

A Vibratory Bowl feeder is normally used for presenting the caps to torque heads when automatically capping. As an alternative, particularly useful where several different cap sizes are required, Cap Coder can offer a Rotary Feed table to supply the caps.

The machine can be supplied suitable for use in Hazardous Environments, complete with the necessary documentation for use in a Zone 2, Atex Environment. There are also options for Validation Documentation, including HATS & SATS, DSERA, GMP and GAMP.

Ancillary equipment can also be supplied, including conveyors, feeding and collating rotary tables and hopper/elevators for bulk supply.

To see a video of the CC560 click here